Aluminum siding panel having interlocking marginal edges



Feb. 8, 1966 R. 1.. GRAVELEY, JR 3,233,382

ALUMINUM SIDING PANEL HAVING INTERLOCKING MARGINAL EDGES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.

INVENTOR ROBERT LGRAVHEXJR AT TORNE Y ALUMINUM SIDING PANEL HAVINGVINTERLOCKING MARGINAL EDGES Filed Aug. 30, 1962 Feb. 8, 1966 R. L. GRAVELEY, JR

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. ROBERT L 6R4 VHiX-IR ATTORNEY United States Patent '0 3,233,382 ALUMINUM SIDING PANEL HAVING INTER- LOCKING MARGINAL 'EDGES Robert L. Graveley, Jr., Silver Lake, Ohio, assignor to Alside, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 220,466 1 Claim. (Cl. 52522) This invention relates to the art of aluminum siding and in particular has reference to an improved type of aluminum siding wherein the upper and lower marginal edges are automatically interlocked during application of the siding in normal fashion.

In the art of aluminum siding manufacture, it has long been known that siding of this general type can be made by a roll forming operation that shapes the upper and lower marginal edges of the siding to the appropriate cross section so as to facilitate easy installation of the same. I

Representative patents showing the state of the art being discussed are Rauen Patent 2,991,592 and Abramson Patent 2,766,861.

While both of the above patents teach the use of an interlocking between the overlapped marginal edges of adjacent siding panels, it has been found that improved resultscan be achieved by providing a different type ofinterlock that provides improved interlocking features while simultaneously providing a panel having greater rigidity.

Specifically, it has been found that if the top marginal edge of the panel is provided with a continuous rib on the projecting edge of the V-shaped pocket thereof, that this rib will have the dual effect of strengthening the panel against flexure, while simultaneously providing an automatic point of interlock with an appropriately formed lower marginal edge. With regard to the lower marginal edge, it has been found that if the same is provided with a locking flange that snaps under the above-described upper rib, that 'then and in that event, locking may be automatically achieved upon insertion of the locking flange into the top pocket of an applied panel. It has been further found that the use of a V-shaped locking flange permits such a siding panel to be readily removed by the applicator prior to the final nailing in place on the wall, even though-the same has been interlocked in place during the initial insertion.

Stated otherwise, the lower edge, upon being inserted into the upper pocket of an installed panel, will be supported against disengagement by virtue of the interlock. However, the interlock can be readily broken by the applicator by merely striking the temporarily positioned panel in the middle region with a downward blow so as to cause the locking flange to be pivoted out of locking engagement with the rib.

Production of an improved interlocking siding panel having the above described advantages accordingly becomes the principal object of this invention, with other objects thereof becoming more apparent upon a reading of the following brief specification, considered and interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view partly broken away and in section and showing the improved siding panel.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section showing the siding panel applied to a Wall surface and showing the interlock between the upper and lower marginal edges of such a panel.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper and lower edge-components and showing, in full lines, the position of these components as the interlocking position is approached and'further showing, in chain dotted lines, the position of such components at the midpoint of said interlocking operation.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing, in full lines, the position of the component parts in fully interlocked position and further showing, in chain dotted lines, the position of the component parts when the panel 'has been deformed tospermit release of the interlocked relationship.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG- URE '1 thereof, the improved siding panel, ,generally'designated'by the numeral 10, includes a flat elongate body portionl-l having upper and lower parallel marginal edge portions that are generally indicated by the numerals 12 and 13, respectively. 7

With reference to the detailed construction ofthe upper marginal edge, it will be noted that the body portion 11 is provided with a continuous, forwardly projecting rib 20 that is spaced slightly from the top marginal edge, with the body 11 being further bent upon itself, as shown in the drawings, to define a V-shaped pocket that is indicated generally by the nuumeral 21, with the V-shaped pocket 21 being detfined by both the body 11 and the bent wall portion 22, as clearly shown in the drawings. For the purpose of nailing the panel in position, nailing tabs 23, 23 are struck from the upper portion of the 'downturned wall section 22, with this condition being clearly shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. The nailing tabs 23, 23 includenail openings 24, 24 and the plane of'the tabs 23, 23 is preferably disposed at a slight angle (approximately 3-30) with respect to the plane of the body 11 so as to properly position the main body portion 11 during application. In this regard, angles between 3 and 7 degrees will normally be preferred for purposes to be subsequently described. The projecting end ofthe just described downturned wall 22 is preferably contoured to define a rib 26, with the rib 26 being rolled outwardly with respect to the front face of the panel 10 so that the end 26a thereof is disposed adjacent the outer surface of the wall 22, as clearly shown-in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. Outward rolling of the rib in this fashion has been found to provide additional longitudinal rigidity to the siding panel because of the fact that such rolling of the rib outwardly as is done here serves to space the rib at a greater d-is tance from the neutral axis of the panel. A rib so disposed has been found to provide a m'ore rigid panel than is produced with the rib turned inward, for example. Additionally, rolling of the rib in this fashion further-conveniently provides an appropriate hollow space within which a stiffening wire can conveniently be inserted during fabrication, so as to provide even greater longitudinal rigidity to the siding panel.

Turning now to the construction of the lower marginal edge 13, it will be noted that the same includes a first flange 30 that extends rearwardly from the lower edge of the body portion 11, as is clearly shown in the drawings, with it being preferable that the flange member 30 be disposed at an angle slightly less than degrees with re spect to the body 11. In this regard, an angular inclination between body 11 and flange 30 of between 83 and 87 degrees, has been found mostdesirable from a production standpoint.

In this regard and considering the preferred situation wherein the body 11 is disposed at an angle of (1) 3 /2 3 degrees from the nailing tabs 23, 23 and (2) 85 degrees from the flange 30, it will be noted that the flange 30;

upon being interlocked with respect to a positioned upper edge, will be disposed in a plane that extends upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the lower edge of body 11, with this condition being clearly shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The arrangement just described is preferable because of the fact that rain water coming down over the face of any installed panel will leave that panel at its lower edge due to the descending Water being unable to flow uphill on the underside of the flange 30, Accordingly, and as indicated, the rain water will merely leave the lower end of the body 11 at its point of juncture with the flange 30 and in that fashion, each panel is individually washed and the dirt removed therefrom does not pass over and/or streak the panel that is immediately adjacent the same at a lower. level.

In this regard, this result can be achieved by making the combined total of the above described angles less than 90 degrees, with it being noted that When-the angles in question total.90 degrees, that the flangev 30 be perfectly perpendicular to the wall surface involved.

A locking flange, generally designated by the numeral 31 is integrally provided on the projecting edge of the flange 30 and, as shown in the drawings, the locking flange 31 is preferably of V-shaped cross section so as to include the wall sections 32 and 33 that are disposed at approximately right angles to each other, as indicated in the drawings. A locking shoulder 34 is thus created at the apex of the V-shaped locking flange 31 and, as shown in FIGURE 3, the distance X (representing the distance between the projecting edge 30a and the locking shoulder 34) is slightly greater than the distance Y, which represents the restricted mouth opening of the V-shaped pocket 21, as defined by the rib 26 and body portion 11. In this fashion, and as shown in chain dotted lines in FIGURE 3, the locking shoulder will spring the rib 26 upwardly and to the right of FIGURE 3 so as to permit interlocking engagement therewith, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. Weep holes 37, 37 are conventionally provided at appropriately spaced points in the flange 30, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. In use or operation of the improved siding panel 10, and assuming at least one panel to have been nailed in place as indicated in FIGURE 2, it is merely necessary that the applicator position the lower edge of the next panel to be applied in the approximate position shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, with it being noted that in this position the nailing tabs 23, 23 of the panel being applied will be freely positioned against the wall, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. At this time, application of upward lifting pressure to the lower side of flange 30 Will cause the locking shoulder 34 to spring the rib 26 to the position shown in chain dotted lines in FIGURE 3 and following further upward movement, the locking shoulder 34 will snap into place behind rib 26 as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4 of the drawings. The panel thus positioned now has its lower edge securely interlocked with the upper edge of the fastened panel and, at this time the upper edge ofthe panel may, if desired, be nailed in place to complete the application.

However, and in the event it is desired to remove the panel for trimming or fitting purposes, the applicator may merely strike a downward and inward blow against the outer surface of the body 11 in the direction of the arrow 50, as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The effect of such a blow will be to distort the locking flange to the position shown in chain dotted lines in FIGURE 4, where.-

in the locking shoulder 34 has been pivoted so as to be free of the restriction previously afforded by the rib 26. The downward component of movement afforded by such a blow accordingly shifts the released locking flange out of its seated position within the V-shaped pocket. Following trimming, the panel can be repositioned in place plied as" required.

With reference to the rib 20, it will be noted that the same serves as a strengthening member for the upper marginal edge 12 of the panel, and further serves as a seat provided within the V-shaped pocket for the purpose of limiting the depth of penetration of the locking flange into the V-shaped pocket. Accordingly, as noted in the drawings, the flange leg 33 has its projecting edge offset forwardly of the projecting edge portion 30a so as to provide for clearance with respect-to the rib 20, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

It should be additionally noted with respect to the flange leg 33 that the same has a substantially parallel relationship with respect to the depending wall portion 22 of the V-shaped pocket 21., This preferred arrangement permits the wall portions 22 and 33 to seat against each other as shown in full lines in FIGURE 4, with this seating relationship accordingly establishing the angular relationship between the interlocked components. Additionally, it is noted that the leg portion 32 is illustrated being at an angle of approximately 56 degrees to the body portion 11 so as to provide a situation wherein the pivoting of the flange 30 will serve to move the locking shoulder 34 between the full and chain dotted line positions of FIGURE 4 for the purpose of permitting easy disengagement of the interlocked edges.

.While a full and complete description of the invention has been set forth in accordance with the dictates of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiment shown herein.

Accordingly, modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit hereof or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An interlocking panel of the character described, comprising;

(A) a flat elongate body having parallel upper and lower marginal edges; (B) an upper edge interlocking component adapted to be secured to a support surface and including (1) a V-shaped pocket formed by the upper edge of said body and a downwardly and outwardly extending flange; said V-shaped pocket including (a) a continuous rib provided on the outboard end of said flange with said rib restricting the mouth opening of said pocket;

(C) a lower edge interlocking component including (1) a first flange integrally projecting rearwardly and upwardly in a straight line from said lower marginal edge at a first acute angle with respect to said lower marginal edge and including a projecting rear edge disposed rearwardly of said lower edge; (2) a locking flange integrally projecting upwardly and forwardly from said projecting edge of said first flange and including a locking shoulder that is ofiset forwardly of said projecting rear edge;

(a) the distance between said locking shoulder and said projecting edge being greater than the restricted mouth opening defined by said rib;

(b) said flange of said V-shaped pocket moving forwardly of said body in response to upward movement of said locking shoulder following contact therewith, whereby said locking shoulder may snap into position behind said rib during insertion of said locking flange into said V-shaped pocket;

(0) said. upper and rear edges becoming in terlocked following said insertion; (D) a series of nailing tabs struck from said upper marginal edge and being arranged in a common plane References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Kinghorn 52572 Abramson 52-531 Rauen 52-527 Mendelsohn 52531 RICHARD W. COOKE, 111., Primary Examiner.

10 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

